A provocative new exhibit at the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) invites visitors to explore the multifaceted world of renowned artist Hank Willis Thomas in an exhibit called “LOVERULES,“ showcasing 90 works from the collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation.
This striking display of conceptual art — including photography, sculptures, textiles and more — explores themes of love, identity and power, offering a narrative on contemporary culture through Thomas’ lens.
“LOVERULES” — read as “Love Over Rules” — showcases mixed media and mass-produced imagery to bring together themes that include social history and the battle for equality in platforms like journalism, photography, advertising and popular culture, UAMA’s director Olivia Miller said in a press release.
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“In this show, Thomas is asking what the role of art is in civic life,” Miller said. “How does visual culture like advertising create narratives that shape our notion of what is valuable in society? How does advertising affect the way we see each other?”
“LOVERULES” runs through June 21.
In the exhibit are several of Thomas’ series, including “Branded” and “Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America.” In the former, Thomas uses sport iconography to explore brand advertising. In the latter, he removes slogans and logos to “highlight how corporate media impacts and shapes notions of African American identity,” the press release says.
The work comes from the collection of Jordan Schnitzer, who the museum previously worked with for “The Art of Food,” which was displayed at UAMA from 2021 to 2022.
“The first time I saw Hank Willis Thomas’ art, I was overwhelmed by his creative genius,” Schnitzer said in a press release. “His themes, one image after another, force us to deal with issues that far too long have plagued society by not respecting or accepting each other irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion. I started collecting his work almost six years ago and I am so excited to share our collection with all of you at the University of Arizona Museum of Art.”
“This is the largest exhibition of Thomas’ work in the Southwest, and so many people who live here have not had the opportunity to see his work, certainly at this scale,” Miller said. “So it’s introducing a new artist to the area, and part of our mission is to bring in artists that people might not be able to see otherwise.”
“LOVERULES” runs through June 21 at the UAMA, 1031 N. Olive Road. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. General admission is $8.
The University of Arizona Museum of Art is open Tuesday-Saturday.
